Improvement in beer-coolers



CHARLES L. HIDGWAY.-

Improvement in Beer Camiers'. N0 118,545 Patented A-ug.29,1371.

UNITED STATES CHARLES L. tlDG-VAY, 0F BOSTON, MASSAGIIUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEER-COOLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,646, dated August 29, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known-that I, CHARLES L. RIDGWAY, of

I Boston, lin the county of Suffolk and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beer-Coolers; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this speeication, in which-q Figure 1 represents an elevation of my device; Fig. 2, avertical central section of the saine; and Fig. 3, a separate view, showing the application of the check-latch to the stop-cock.

Like letters of like kinds designate' corresponding part-s in each figure.

The object of my invention is the construction of an apparatus by which beer sh all be cooled, displayed, and drawn, in a more effective manner; and the invention consists in the means employed for cooling the beer in an intermediate chamber between the barrel and the mouth of the outlet-pipe 5 in the means employed for displaying the beer; in the means employed in drawing the beer, so that the same may be drawn with or without foam, with or without cooling, or with such proportion of foam as may be desired; and in the means employed for conveniently regulating the movements of the stop-cock.

In the annexed drawing, A represents a casin g intended, preferably, to be secured to or upon a table or counter, which casing supports my apparatus. To this casing, and penetrating it, is sccured a three-way cock or faucet, B, having a spindle, K, an inlet-channel, L, and an outletchannel, M. Any convenient connection is made between the barrel and the inlet end of the faucet. A hollow base, D, preferably of metal, rests upon and is secured to the faucet directly over the spindle, and has a channel, N, leading as the spindle is turned, either into the inlet or outletchannels. Upon this base is placed a chamber, E, preferably of glass, from the bottom' of which are openings leading into the cavity of the base D. 1n the interior of the chamber E is placed an ice-reservoir, F, having, preferably, a cylindrical form, which reservoir extends from the top to the bottom of said chamber, and there resting upon a bearing, V, upon the top of the base, is furnished with a drip-pipe, R, provided with a suitable stop-cock, H. A suitable removable cover,

G, iits upon the top ofthe chamber E and closes the upper end of the ice-reservoir. A checklatch, T, provided with a spring, S, is pivoted to the spindle at the point marked t in Fig. 3, in such a manner as that the end of the check comes in contact with the shoulders d and c, shown in Fig. 1, and thus limits the revolution of the spindle.

ln the operation of my device, (the same being in position and properly connected with a barreh) by turning the spindle in one direction and raising the latch so as to pass over the shoulder d the beer will pass directly from the barrel into the chamber E in its ordinary foaming state, the foam instantly rising' to the surface. In this condition the beer is in full view of the consumer, thus enabling him to judge of its quality, and presents a very beautiful and attractive appearance. Being thus contained in the chamber, it is almost immediately cooled by contact of the ice-reservoir. By turning the spindle so as to open the discharge, the beer will be drawn from the bottom of the chamber without any foam into the drinking-vessel, which will thus be filled with solid heer. By turning the spindle further, so as to open a passage from the barrel directly into the discharge-nozzle, a little foam may be iiushed upon the surface of the solid beer in the drinkin g-vessel, or, if desired, the drinking-vessel may be iilled at once from the barrel without cooling' and with the usual proportion of foam.

Among the advantages possessed by my apparatus are these, viz.: The beer is cooled almost instantly and effectually after it is drawn from the barrel and immediately before it enters the drinkin g-vessel, thus avoiding the staleness found in beer which has been cooled in the barrel, and which has lost its coolness by standing in the pipes connecting the barrel and the drinkingvessel. It is also displayed to full view in an effervescent, foaming', and sparkling condition, which presents it in a very attractive manner. It may be drawn from the solid liquor without foam, so that the customer gets full honest measure, and afterward iiushed with foam, as many desire, or it may be drawn directly from the barrel in its foaming condition without cooling, as y others prefer it.

While in my ldescription I have confined the application and manner of operation of my appamtus to beer, it is evident that it is equally sipplienble to all ifozuning liquors which are Sold :it retail ne beverages.

Ilzwing thus fully set forth the nai-ure :md merits of my ilivention, what I ehnim :its new is- '1. In beer-coolers, the mrnng'ement ol" :i eoolillgaeservoir in :L reeeiving-ehmnber intermediate between the barrel and the mouth of the outlet-pipe, substantially and for the lmrpose speeiied.

2. The arrangement of a transparent chamber intermediate between the barrel and the month oi' the outlet-pipe, for the purpose of displaying tlle beer, Substantially its Shown and described.

3. In combination with the Chamber E, the

three-Way eoek B, eonstrneted, arranged, an( operated substantially es :md for the purpose sei forth.

4. In combination with the three-wey eoek 1"; provided with shoulders d .uid e, the elieek-latel': T provided with the spring S, all eenstrlwted4 errang-ed, and opemted substantially es Rnd .foi the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hav( lirnnto set my hand this 14th day of August. t 7

CHARLES L. RIDGWAY.

Vitnesses FRANK G. PARKER, WILLIAM EDSON. 

